Expert: Amy - 3/29/2007

Question
Hi,

I'm running Illustrator CS2 (v12.0.0) on Windows XP, and I'm having a bizarre and persistent problem when saving some files in the .ai format. If I'm trying to save a file called "CornSilage.ai" and I just hit "save," instead of saving any changes into the same file, Illustrator creates a new file called "CORNSI~1.AI" and the original file becomes 0k. Every subsequent save (not "save as") results in a brand new file (CORNSI~2.AI, CORNSI~3.AI, etc.)

I have tried unchecking "Create PDF Compatible File" as I have seen suggested here for similar problems, to no avail. I have also made sure that Copy to PDF is UNCHECKED in the File handling and Clipboard preferences, as was also suggested in relation to a similar problem. That didn't help. I also tried rebuilding the transparency flattener presets file, which seemed to help for a few minutes and the problem returned.

If I save the files as .eps I have no problem, but I prefer to work with .ai files as they are smaller and work perfectly with InDesign. Until I get a solution I guess that's what I will have to do.

Thanks, Lisa

Answer
Hi Lisa,

That is strange.

Yes, you tried everything that would most likely be suggested.  I'm sure you re-created the prefs file as well.

I wonder if it might have something to do with where the files are located on your machine... or where the application is located?  If it were me, I'd play around with that.

Other than that - do you have Acrobat running in the background?

Does this happen with all files?

If you shut down your computer, then restart, launch Illustrator, create a new document and try repeated saves, does it happen then?

Let me know?

Amy